When Love Is a Lie

Each in the morning, Whimey was waiting the the elevator when she heard the sound of a door opening behind her.

Out of the corners of her eyes, she saw Noel approaching but chose not to greet him. As soon as the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside without a glance back

The murred walls reflected the hs of them, one standing in front of the other. The silence was almost suffocating, broken only by the sound of the elevator descending Feeling the tension, Whimey couldn’t hold back any longer,” man arks you over again, could you please refinebi

She really didn’t want to face the same we situation as hast time.

“Am I that en bewable Noel asked back.

“No, I just think or shouldn’t get too close. You know what I m

Nel towed over her by almost a hood and a halt. He good down at her through the mirror. “There’s only one way not to get close. Either you don’t marry into the Howard

amily or 1culties with them.”

In other words, she could only word him if she broke off her engagement or if Neleased to be part of the Howard family.

Whime bebeved there had to be other solutions. Noel was clearly making things difficult for her

She met his gaze in the mirror and said indignantly, “But you’re already estranged from the Howard family, aren’t you? That should make it easier. Just avoid me or stay away

whimey knew that ever since Noel and his parents had moved out of the Howard residence, they rarely went back. There was no need to go to such extremes.

a mocking smile. “You’re just unwilling to give up

deep, pleating her heart like a

Spencer family and her mother, would she still be compromising for Damian? What did their eight years together mean he kept betraying

Noldn’t know any of this all he did was judge and mock

you’re right, I’m just too attached to the title of Mrs. Howard. Is that so wrong?” Just then the elevate reached the underground parking level, and Whitney stopped out quickly.

painfully inside her. The years of suppression seemed to reach a

haste, she didn’t see the car approaching behind her.

strong force.

yourself killed? Noel

works, his arms were strong. He held her tightly with one hand while his other arm wrapped

that wild night flashedthrough Whitney’s mind, and

pause, he said coldly, “I’ll consider what

then turned and walked toward his black G–Wagon.

a daze, watching him drive off. She didn’t move until his car had disappeared

the Black Rolls–Rayre hidden in

tension, the driver asked cautiously,

expression was grim, his mind still replaying the scene of Noel

he had seen Noel’s expression all too clearly–ball of longing yet tempered by restraint. His dear com had been coveting his fiancéeall

expression grew eerily calm.

Whitney had just parked her car and was waiting for the elevator when Damian walked me, carrying

he said with a grille smile, handing